To All The Moms

This is to all the moms. The working moms, the stay at home moms, the moms who work from home, the moms who have to work but wanna stay at home, the moms who stay at home but wanna work. Life is full of curve balls. Maybe, you are doing exactly what you want to be doing. Maybe, you are doing what you have to do to survive.  Maybe, life has dealt you a hand of cards you never saw coming. Are you a single mom, the mom of an angel baby,  mom of a sick baby, mom of too many babies, mom of not enough babies, mom of an adoptive baby, maybe your the mom that gave your baby up.

Let’s just face it. All of these are hard jobs. Being a mom is just hard. I’ve cried a lot this week. Like I said being a mom is hard.

I want each of you to know. You are doing this right. 

There is no one certain way to parent. Even if we want to believe that our way is right. Well, our way is right. For our family. It may not be right for someone else’s family. We as moms do what is right for our family.

Seriously, from the beginning mom’s are tasked with the hard stuff. First, we have to grow this tiny human INSIDE us. Then we have to push the tiny human OUT of us. Not only that while we are growing this tiny human we can’t eat certain foods, and have to ingest disgusting prenatal vitamins (some of which vitamins we have never heard of). We need to eat a few extra calories to provide nutrition for our baby, but the second we start eating a little more, someone makes some smart comment. Never do this to a pregnant lady. Just let them eat what they want. Believe me. We know we are getting bigger, we really don’t need to have a conversation about our basketball sized stomach every time you see us! 

So now we are growing this human. Are we gonna breast feed, pump, formula. Now I need to decided what bottles to use. Diapers, all that milk has got to go somewhere. Cloth diapers, disposable? Is your head spinning yet? But there is more. Cribs, decorations, clothes. Do I need a boppy, what about a bumbo? Oh wait, wasn’t there a recall on those. Can’t use those now. But my friend used it, she didn’t have any problems. Natural remedies or medicines? Am I going to make my own food. I should, it would be better. Buying jarred baby food is so much easier though. I should ask my husband. His response. I don’t care honey. It doesn’t matter. Yes, yes it matters. Why doesn’t he care more? Cue tears. NOW.

…Tiny human is here…

Now, we have to keep this tiny human alive!! We are sure we are all doing it wrong. At least I am. I guess I can’t really speak for everyone else. Are you like me? Are you 99.99% that your kid will end up on Dr. Phil’s episode “my mom messed up my life”.  That will be me. I mean seriously.  Tiny humans are hard work. Can I get an AMEN! 

They constantly want, they hardly ever say “Thanks, Mom.” It is a 24/7/365 day job. No breaks. Even when the kids are gone to grandma’s. I wonder what they are eating? I bet all they are getting is sugar. It’s gonna take forever to get them back in routine now. Seriously, our kids are always on our minds.

That is why being a mom is hard work. We never get a break. We constantly want and strive so our children have better. We work and constantly think of them. I hope they are safe. I hope they are behaving. I hope they are learning something. I hope they are having fun. IT IS CONSTANT. 

It is hardest job I have ever had. At times it breaks my heart. Especially when Olivia looks at me and says ” Momma, I miss you. I don’t like school. I stay home with momma”. This tears at my heart. It rips it to shreds. Since my heart is wanting to stay at home, and I have to work. Just the cards I got dealt. Then there are the smiles and the laughs.

Somehow, in this crazy world.

All the smiles and laughs make up for all the tears.

All the nap time cuddles make up for all the sleepless nights.

All the family movie nights make up for the missed parties with friends.

See Mom. Yes you there. The one who thinks its unbearably hard right now. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. No, I do not mean when they move out. I mean the times when time seems to stop. When you look at your baby no matter how old and think “THIS IS WORTH IT”.

Mom, you are doing a good job. You are the best thing to happen to your child. You hang the moon, the stars to your little one. Remember that. But Remember who hangs the moon and stars for you.

Jesus.

The real Jesus. Because of him you are the best thing to happen to your child. Let them know that. Let’s face it. Without him, we couldn’t be the best mom ever. Without him, we would constantly be failing. Because of him. We are free. We get to show our children the same Love that Christ shows us.

So breathe.

Go to your happy place. Is it a quiet bathroom? Without little hands prying to get in? Is it a beach with a little umbrella drink. Go there.

Remember because of him you can be the mom your kids need. Because of him you don’t have to be perfect. Because of him.

You are enough.

You are good.

You are mom.

And…

You will survive.